Dubai is stepping up construction at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), moving one of its most ambitious infrastructure projects into a significantly more intensive phase. The emirate is preparing to award tens of billions of dirhams in additional contracts as it builds the aviation capacity needed to support passenger growth, trade and tourism over the coming decades.
Around AED 13 billion worth of contracts connected with the new airport are already under execution. The scale of activity is set to increase sharply before the end of 2026, when another AED 55 billion ($14.9 billion) in construction packages are expected to be awarded. The investment reflects Dubai’s determination to develop DWC while Dubai International Airport gradually approaches the physical limits of further expansion.
According to The National, Dubai Airports chief executive Paul Griffiths said work on the project remains on schedule despite a challenging regional environment. Over the past 15 months, construction has already accounted for about 10 million working hours, while contractors have installed more than 17,000 piles and moved approximately 45 million cubic metres of earth.
Construction Builds Momentum Ahead of 2032
The figures demonstrate that Al Maktoum International is moving well beyond the planning stage. Roughly 9,000 people are currently employed at the construction site, but that number could rise dramatically as more contracts enter execution. At peak activity, the workforce is expected to reach approximately 120,000 people.
The first major development phase is scheduled to become operational in 2032. It is expected to provide capacity for about 150 million passengers annually, creating enough room for Dubai’s aviation industry to continue expanding after DXB reaches its practical capacity ceiling.
The long-term plan is considerably larger. Once fully developed, Al Maktoum International is designed to accommodate as many as 260 million passengers every year and process approximately 12 million tonnes of cargo. The master plan includes five parallel runways, two passenger terminals, seven concourses and more than 400 aircraft stands.
This scale makes DWC much more than an airport construction project. Its development is closely tied to the future of Dubai South, where aviation, logistics, residential communities and commercial districts are expected to expand alongside the new global hub. As activity gradually shifts toward the area, demand for transport links, housing, offices, hotels and supporting services could increase substantially.
A Larger Airport Could Expand Dubai’s Global Reach
The expansion also comes at a time when aircraft technology is changing the economics of international travel. New-generation narrow-body jets are capable of flying considerably longer distances than previous models, allowing airlines to open direct routes that may not generate enough demand for traditional wide-body aircraft.
Aircraft such as the Airbus A321XLR could therefore play an important role in DWC’s future network. Dubai Airports estimates that the new hub may eventually be able to offer direct connections to as many as 600 cities. Smaller destinations in Europe, Africa and Asia could become commercially viable as airlines gain greater flexibility in matching aircraft capacity with passenger demand.
Moving such large volumes of travellers through the airport will require an equally ambitious internal transport network. A consortium involving Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Larsen & Toubro has secured the contract for an automated people mover for the first development phase. The planned system will stretch for about 50 kilometres, connect nine stations and use 165 automated vehicles.
The people mover is scheduled for completion before the airport’s planned 2032 opening. Its size illustrates the complexity of the project: DWC is effectively being designed as an aviation city where passengers will need fast connections between terminals, concourses and other facilities across a vast site.
Dubai Prepares for a Gradual Aviation Shift
Dubai International will remain essential throughout the construction period. Rather than reducing investment in DXB immediately, authorities are continuing improvement programmes designed to maintain its operational efficiency and passenger experience. Road access, terminal infrastructure and airfield facilities are among the areas being upgraded while DWC progresses.
The strategy allows Dubai to increase aviation capacity without depending on an abrupt transfer between the two airports. Instead, the emirate can maintain DXB as its principal international gateway while preparing Al Maktoum International for a much larger role after 2032.
The economic consequences could extend far beyond aviation. Airport infrastructure supports tourism, logistics, hospitality, retail, international trade and real estate, while improved global connectivity can make surrounding districts more attractive to companies and investors. The development of DWC could therefore accelerate the transformation of Dubai South into another major business and residential centre.
With AED 13 billion in contracts already under execution and more than AED 55 billion in additional packages expected to be awarded, the project is entering a decisive construction period. Its eventual capacity of 260 million passengers would place Al Maktoum International on a scale unlike today’s major global hubs.
Dubai is effectively building infrastructure for travel demand that extends decades into the future. If the current timetable is maintained, the 2032 opening will mark not only the arrival of a much larger airport but also the beginning of a broader shift in the geographic centre of Dubai’s aviation, logistics and investment activity.